Viking parliament found under Dingwall car park

Archaeologists say they have confirmed the location of a meeting place of a medieval Norse parliament.

The Cromartie car park, site of the Dingwall thing
[Credit © David MacDonald]

Called a "thing", evidence of the mound was uncovered during excavations of Dingwall's Cromartie Memorial car park.

When it was constructed in the 11th Century, the thing would have been on a man-made islet in the estuary of the Peffery.

Archaeologists and historians believe it was built on the instructions of Thorfinn the Mighty.

Ground penetrating radar survey revealed evidence of a possible ditch running
around the mound [Credit: © Dr Oliver O’Grady]

The powerful Viking earl, who died in 1065, is thought to have laid the foundations of what would later become the royal burgh of Dingwall in Ross-shire.

Experts suggest a road, ditch and an aqueduct, known as the Water of Dyke, that drew water from hillside springs were also constructed when Thorfinn was in control of Ross-shire and large parts of the north of Scotland.

Thorfinn's rise to power was aid by his victory in a battle at Torfnes on the south side of the Cromarty Firth. At the height of his power he was lord of Caithness, Shetland and Orkney.

Estuarine mud

In Scotland, thing sites can also be found in Shetland and Orkney. Clues to the location of Dingwall's thing included an 18th Century plan of the town.

A fragment of an iron vessel was found during the excavation
[Credit: BBC]

OJT Heritage and Dingwall History Society were involved in excavating parts of Cromartie Memorial car park, which is on a piece of land known as the Hillyard.

David MacDonald was commissioned to put together a historical investigative report on the thing site.

In his report, he said: "The excavation revealed that what had been a large earth mound contained within the Hillyard of Dingwall had been located within estuarine mud.

"This confirmed George Brown's plan of 1790 showing the Hillyard as an estuarine islet."